Vacuum wing stabilizer for aeroplanes



Dec. 31, 1929. J. G. LYONS 1,741,578

VA CUUM WING STABI LIZER FOR AEROPLANES Filed Sept. 28, 1928 INVENTOR Q7.- G. Lyons ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 192i) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES G. LYONS, F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA VACUUM WING STABILIZER FOR. AEROPLANES Application filed September 28, 1928. Serial No. 309,102.

This invention relates to aeroplanes and span. Mounted inside the wing near the particularly to a means for stabilizing the front end equal distances to the sides of the same while in the air. The principal object body are the casings 3 of suction fans 4 of my invention is to provide a driven vacwhich are set on vertical axes.

5 uum or suction fan and an air passage ar The intake passages 5 to the fans lead forra-ngement therefor mounted in a wing of wardly and downwardly from the top of the any aeroplane in such relation thereto as to casings as shown in Fig. 2 and extend to the tend to stabilize the wing and consequently forward edge of the wing, terminating in the plane as a whole by preventing to a great wide mouths 6 as shown in Fig. 1. The for- 10 extent the tendency to tilt laterally which ward edge of the wing with which the v machines now have under certain conditions. mouths communicate preferably has a down- The structure is entirely concealed inside ward and rearward slant so that no rain the wing so that it offers no resistance to can directly drop into the mouths. Also the the air nor are any parts exposed to the downward slope of the intake passages to- 1 elements. ward the mouths causes any water which A further object of the invention is to might be received therein to drain out inarrange this fan andpassage structure in a stead of passing to the fans. The discharge combination with the wing turbines such as passages 7 from the sides of the fan casings shown in In co-pending application for patextend through the wing toward the rear 19 ent, Serial 0. 259,439, filed March 6, 1928, end thereof and discharge downwardly into so that while said structure functions for the the atmosphere. If the aeroplane is of the above named purpose it will also aid in to ordinary type, the above features of contating the turbines, thereby adding to the struetion constitute the complete apparatus, power output of the latter. it being understood that the fans are adapt- 25 A further object of the invention is to ed to be continually driven while the plane produce a simple and inexpensive device and is in flight by any suitable power means, yet one which will be exceedingly effective which it is not thought'necessary to illusfor the purpose for which it is designed. trate.

These objects I accomplish by means of By reason of this arrangement, continuous 30 such structure and relative arrangement of and definitely located horizontal strata of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of moving air symmetrically disposed relative' the following specification and claims. to the body, are drawn into the mouths at In the drawings similar characters of refthe front of the wing and discharged into erence indicate corresponding parts in thc the atmosphere at the rear. The velocity 35 several views: of these strata being different from the rela- 35 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an aeroplane tive velocity of the air as a whole had with of the t pe shown in said abovementioned the forward movement of the machine, will applicatlon, equipped with the vacuum fan I believe have a great stabilizing effect on arrangement cooperating with the turbine the wing, preventing the same from any 40 power generators, parts being shown broken tendency to ateral and undesired tilting out. movement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longi- If the above structure however, is incortudinal section taken on the line 22 of porated in my own improved aeroplane as Fig. 1. shown in said co-pending application for Referring now more particularly to the patent, the discharge passages 7 communicharacters of reference on the drawings, the cate intermediate their ends with the horinumeral 1 denotes the wing of a monoplane zontal casings 8 of the turbine wheels 9 of my improved type, and of the usual holwhich project across the passages 7 so as low constructiOn, and supporting the fuseto be acted on by the flow of air passing lage or body 2 therebetween centrally of its therethrough.

sages at a greater velocity than that coming from the passages will add considerably to the power development of the turbines.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from' such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from'the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to sesure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an aeroplane having a body and a wing, suction fans mounted in the wing, intake passages in the wing leading to the fans from under the front edge. of the Wing, discharge passages in the wing leading from the fans toward the rear of the wing; said fans and passages being symmetrically disposed onto the sides of the body, air driven turbines mounted in the wing, said turbines projecting into the discharge passages of the fans to be acted on by the flow of air therethrough, and additional air passages leading from the front edge of the wing to communicate with said discharge passages ahead of the turbines.

2. In an aeroplane having a body and a hollow wing, driven suction, fans mounted in the wings intermediate their ends on both sides of the body and set on vertical axes, casings surrounding the fans, intake passages in the wing leading from under the front edge of the wing to top of the fan casings. and discharge passages in the wing leading rearwardly from the sides of the casing to the atmosphere.

3. In an aeroplane comprising essentially a body, a wing directly superimposed thereon, and a driving propeller at the front end of the body, open ended air passages extending lengthwise in the wings on both sides of the body and terminating at their front ends under the forward edge of the wing but in a position to receive the horizontal air streams thrown back from the propeller to the sides of the body, and suction fans in the wing arranged to pull air from the front ends of the passages and force the same out of the rear end thereof.

4. In an aeroplane having a body and a wing. open ended air passages extending lengthwise in the wings on both sides of the body and terminating at their front ends un der the forward edge of the wing, suction fans in the wing for creating a flow of air In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES G. LYONS. 

